A BABY who fought off a bout of meningitis tragically died after contracting the deadly disease for a second time.

Jacob Heywood was just 15 months old when he lost his battle with a rare strain of the illness.

Parents Suzanne Needham and Ian Heywood were devastated.

Now, three months after their world fell apart, the couple hope something positive will emerge from the tragedy and are helping to raise money for the Meningitis Trust.

Miss Needham, aged 23, a health care assistant, said: “I was so relieved when he got better the first time. I couldn’t believe it when I was told he had it again and broke down in tears.

“It was horrible when they switched off the life support machine to think it was my little boy. I just wished it wasn’t but it was.

“The 15 months we had together were the best 15 months of my life and he was a special gorgeous little boy.”